Door lock



May6, 1941. QSBOCK 2,241,109

DOOR LOCK Filed Jan. 12, 1940 Patented May 6, 1941 DOOR LOCK Charles S. Bock, Chicago, 111., assignor to Andrew Hoil'man, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 12, 1940, Serial No. 313,623

8 Claims.

My invention relates to door locks, and particularly to those which are applicable to fire or emergency doors to enable them to be quickly opened for purposes of escape, and my main object is to provide a lock of this type which is proof to tampering or disabling influences.

A further object of the invention is to design the novel lock along lines to prevent jamming it by the insertion of pins, toothpicks or other articles having a wedging or blocking tendency.

Another object of the invention is to improve locks of the type contemplated with simple means to accomplish the intended purpose.

With the above objects in view and any others which may suggest themselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is an elevation of the improved lock with its bolt projected;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view from the right of the showing in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the bolt retracted;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3'; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the bolt.

Fire or emergency doors of the character mentioned above are usually employed in factories, schools and other buildings where a quick emergency exit is necessary or advisable. Thus, the lock for the door is applied to its inner side and carries a plunger or pedal usualy marked Push and painted red, such plunger procuring the retraction of the bolt look when actuated, and enabling the door to be pushed wide open. When the door is again closed, the bolt, being of the latch type, automatically snaps into locked position, and there is no way to open the door from the outside.

Obviously, it is the intention that a door of the above type be used for escape purposes only, and not for entrance purposes at any time. However, I have found that where the installation is used in schools the lock is tampered with after the door has opened for exit purposes, so that it will not lock when again closed. The usual method of tampering is to jam the bolt in the retracted position by means of inserting a pin, toothpick or other blocking article between the bolt and its bearing, so that the bolt will be inactive when the door assumes the closed position, enabling the door to be opened from the outside. It has therefore been my intention to so modify the construction of the look as to prevent the application of means to jam the bolt and so discourage the practice complained of.

In accordance with the foregoing, specific reference to the drawing indicates a typical emergency look at H), the same having a latch bolt l I operating in one of its end faces I2. As indicated particularly in Fig. 3, the bolt II is of the generally triangular form and vertically pivoted at [3 in the housing of the lock. Also, the bolt is normally advanced or projected by a suitable spring mechanism M, the particular character of this mechanism being of secondary importance in the present instance, since it suffices that the bolt should be projected to the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 and retractable to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4'. As contemplated, the bolt is retracted by pressure on a frontal push plate [5 which is pivoted at IE to the lock housing, the means for accomplishing this being of any suitable type.

one feature of the present invention lies in I the zone of the outer wall l6 along the inner side of which the bolt describes its arcuate travel. In the conventional lock, the said wall is fairly close to the periphery of the bolt, and it is in the tiny space there located that the pin, toothpick or other jamming article is inserted or wedged as the bolt is held in the retracted position. In order to prevent jamming of the lock in this manner, I have cut away the wall Hi from the front a short distance, as indicated at I1; also, the wall is located more distantly from the periphery of the bolt H. The stock of the housing at points above and below the bolt is then perforated as indicated at l8 to journal the spindle l9 of a vertical roller 20 in a manner to place the roller in contact with the periphery of the bolt. Also, the roller is flush with the corner of the housing, as indicated in Fig. 3, so as not to project therefrom.

I have also altered the zone in the top and bottom closures of the bolt with the housing. Thus, the conventional lock shows a slight clearance space above and belo-wthe bolt in'respect to the said entrance, and either of these spaces has been employed by tamperers to jam the bolt in the retracted position. I have found that where the extent to which the insertion of a pin or toothpick may be possible is very short, the power of the spring behind the bolt will advance the same despite the impediment and dislodge the same. To accomplish this, I have cut the bolt down from its top and bottom a short distance to appear as at 2|, so that the outer wall 22 of the bolt presents upward and downward flanges 23. The entrance to the housing and forming a closure between the bolt and the is cut with angle receptacles 24 at the top and adjacent portion of its housing to prevent the bottom of the bolt entrance,-so that when the insertion between said means and periphery of bolt closes, its top and bottom flanges 23 will an instrument calculated to jam the bolt. seat in the receptacles as clearly shown in Fig. 2. In a lock carried by the closing end of a 4. Thus, if any slight spaces or crack occur door "and having a vertically-pivoted latch bolt between theto or bottom of the bolt and the rm w h n arcuate p ph y; m v housing entrance, the insertion of any sharp means carried by the door in contact with the article or obstruction will soon meet the back ul h i t of Said p ph y d forming a or seat of the corresponding receptacle 24; and lo closure between the bolt and the adja t 1 be prevented from further progress. The shorttion of its housing to prevent thednsertion behold on the bolt thus gained will be lnsulneleht tw n s d ans d periphery of an instruto hold it against the urge of the internal spring, ment calculated to jam the bolt. and the bolt will emerge despite the interferj-ij In alock carried by the closing end of a ence. V ,1 .l door and having a Vertically-pivoted latch bolt It will be apparent that the two features just r d with a cuate erip ery; evable described will counteract attempts to jam the means carried by the dooralongside said periphbolt and soon discourage the same. In the first ery and in rolling contact with the same to preinstance, it will be realized that the roller 28 vent the insertion between said means and pecan form an actual Contact with the bolt pe- 20. p e y f an instrument calculated o im t riphery without in any manner resisting the bolt. action or freedom of the bolt to emerge from 4. In a lock carried by the Clos end of a the housing, since the roller will also act freely r nd vin a v i y piv d latch bolt in the manner of a roller bearing. This is in formed with an arcuate periphery; free-rolling contrast with the possibility of building the'wall means carried by the door in rolling contact It so close to the periphery of the belt as to with said periphery to prevent the insertion be- .leave no-space for the insertion of an obstructtween said means and periphery of an instruing article, in which eventfriction between the ment calculated to jam the bolt. bolt and the housing would soon develop, de 5. In a lock carried by the closing end of a feating the intent of the present invention. 30 door and having a vertically-pivoted latch bolt With the bolt and roller sturdily designed ormed with an arcuate periphery; a vertical closely fitted, it will be impossible to insert an roller freely journaled in the bolt housing alongobs-tructing instrument by hand or to make it side the bolt and in rolling contact with said stay in place against the urge of the bolt to periphery.

advance. As to the second feature, it'stands to 351 6. In a lock carried by the closing end of a reason that a slight clearance space between door and having a vertically-pivoted latch bolt the top and bottom of the bolt flanges 23 with formed with an arcuate periphery;. a vertical the housing will be practicable, since it will fillroller freely journaled'in' the bolt housing alongnish no appreciable hold or pocket for an obside the bolt and in rolling contact with said tru ti 4' periphery, the roller extending at least the full A bolt improved along the lines described height of said periphery. above will limit the function of the fire or emer- 7. In a lock carried by the closing end of a gency door to the prescribed use or requirements door and having a vertically-pivoted latch bolt and discourage if not entirely eliminate attempts formed with an arcuate periphery; means bl.-

to'tamper with the lock. as tween said periphery and the bolt housing pre- While I have described the invention along venting the insertiorr of an instrument calcuspecific lines, various minor changes and 'refinelated to jam thebolt.

merits may be made without departing from its 8; In a lock including a pivoted bolt having principle, and I desire to consider all such an arcuate peripheral surface; free rolling means changes and refinements as coming within the carried by said lock in constant contact with scope and spirit of the appended claims. said surface to prevent the insertion between I claim: said means and said surface of an instrument 1. In a lock having a pivoted latch bolt formed for jamming e 100 1 with an arcuate periphery; movable means car- 1 ried by the lock in contact with said periphery CHARLES S. BOOK. 

